A top aide to German Chancellor Angela Merkel is downplaying a new anti-euro party’s strong showing in a state election, arguing that it’s too early to say its long-term success is assured.

Alternative for Germany won 9.7 percent support in Sunday’s election in the eastern state of Saxony, taking its first seats in a state legislature. Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats won, but need a new coalition partner to run the region.

Merkel’s party so far has tried to ignore Alternative for Germany, which is shaping up as a threat to its right.

Parliamentary caucus leader Volker Kauder pointed Monday to very low turnout in Saxony and told ZDF television: “They won’t be able to do much in a state parliament with being against the euro and against this and that.”